Sartaj Aziz visit to Afghanistan as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy

Islamabad, October 19, 2014 (PPI-OT): The Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, paid a one-day visit to Kabul as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy today. He delivered the Prime Minister’s formal invitation to President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai to visit Pakistan. President Ashraf Ghani appreciated the invitation and conveyed that he would visit Pakistan in the very near future.

President Ashraf Ghani underlined that there was a historic opportunity to transform Pakistan-Afghanistan relations into a warm and mutually-beneficial partnership. He said he would like to share with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif his vision of the bilateral relationship over a 5-year perspective.

The President identified the preparatory work that needed to be undertaken by both sides on different dimensions of the relationship — including political, security and defence cooperation, economic and trade relations, business-to-business contacts, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The Adviser conveyed felicitations on the peaceful transfer of power and formation of the government of national unity. He underscored Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s desire to build a comprehensive and enduring partnership between Pakistan and Afghanistan marked by trust, understanding and close cooperation and his belief that the two countries had a historic opportunity to move in that direction.

The Adviser also underlined the importance of bilateral mechanisms for interaction at different levels in the political, security and economic realms. The Adviser said that Pakistan would fully support and facilitate Afghanistan’s efforts for peace and stability. He also emphasized the importance of enhanced trade and economic relations as well as regional connectivity for trade and energy.

During his visit, the Adviser called on Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and conveyed Prime Minister’s cordial greetings and his invitation to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient date. Appreciating the invitation, the Chief Executive underlined that both sides must work closely to realize the opportunities to build a close, cooperative relationship. Matters relating to peace and security, trade and economic cooperation, and regional cooperation were discussed.

The Adviser also held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osmani and National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar. During these meetings, apart from bilateral and regional matters, the discussions focused on the preparatory work for the President’s visit to Pakistan.